Controlling device for cigarette packaging machines



y 6,1932. G. ORS-TROM 1 8, 8

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July '1. 1930 3 sheets-sheet 1 CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACK AGING MACHINES Filed July 1. 1930' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6. fins im July 26, 19320 G 1,8685% CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES Filed July 1. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lArv/ervTaQ Patented July 26, 1932 UNITED STATES GUS'IAF RSTRfiM, OF ALSTEN, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR T AKTIEBOLAGET GERH. ABEHNS PATENT OFFICE MEKANISKA VERKSTAD, OI" STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, A COMPANY OF SWEDEN CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES Application filed July 1,

Packaging of cigarettes and other staffshaped articles in casings, boxes or the like is generally effected in such manner, that the cigarettes are placed in one or morerows in the casing. In such cases it is ofimportance to control that the row or each row complete, so that the casing will contain the proper number of cigarettes. This inven-' tion relates to an automatically operating device, which is so constructed, that, if one or more of the rows of cigarettes, which are to be introduced into the casing, is incomplete regarding the number,the machine is brought to a standstill, so thatthe incomplete set of cigarettes may be removed. For this purpose the rows of cigarettes are moved from a gathering place into a group of chamhers, the number of which is equal to the number of rows of cigarettes and each of which hasa movable wall located at the one end of the row of cigarettes. After the rows of cigarettes have been introduced into the said chambers, arms or similar members, one for each chamber is caused to act upon the movable wall. If then one or more of the rows is incomplete, the corresponding wall will yield, and the arm moved through some distance, during which movement it acts upon a, stopping mechanism of any suitable construction. Preferably, a' number ofigroups of: chambers are provided in a carrier movable in an endless path, for instance a revolver, which moves the groups of chambers to different stations viz. from the station at which the cigarettes are introduced into the chamber, to a station, at which the'controlling operation is effected and further to a station, at which the cigarettes are introduced into thecasing.

Fig. '1- in the'accompanying. drawings shows in a front view a packagingjmachine for cigarettes and provided with a control-' ling device arranged'in accordance with this invention[ Figs. 2 and 3 are avertical section and a. plan vlew respectively of the machine; Figs'l to '3inclusive show only so much of the machine,as is necessary to explain the invention. Fig. 4 shows a part of the controlling device viewed from the left in Fig. 1. I a i 1930. Serial No. 465,204.

zine, which is charged with cigarettes. The bottom of the magazine constitutes three funnel-shapedcompartments, at the lower part of which rotating groove drums 2, 3 and 4 operate, which feed the cigarettes into channels 5, 6 and 7 respectively, extending downwards. The said drums are rotated in the directions indicated by the arrows by the driving shaft A of the machine and by means of any suitable motion transmitting device. so bent, that their lowermost, horizontal parts are located above each other and the cigarettes, descending in the channels, in the said part-s constitute three superposed rows, as shown. A revolver 9 carried by a shaft 8 is located in front of the said lower parts of the channels. In the present case the revolver 9 is square and at each side of the same chambers 10, 11, 1'2 and 13 are provided, which are parallel to the sides respectively and have the same positions mutually, as the lower, horizontal parts of the channels 5, 6 and 7. The revolver 9 is so located, that during its rotary motion, which takes place step by step through angles of 90, one group of chambers is placed opposite to the lower parts of the channels.

In the said position of the group the cigarettes located in the horizontal parts of the channels are pushed longitudinally and axially relatively to the revolver into the chambers. This is effected by a piston 14, which has three tongues 15, 16 and 17, adapted to enter the channels respectively. Piston 14 is fixed toa cross head 18, which is connected to two rods 20 movable in guides in the frame of the machine, said rods 20 being connected by means of links 21 to a second cross head 22, carried by an arm 24, which is swingable on a pin or shaft 23. The said arm 24 is swung forwards and backwards by a cam disc 25 on the shaft A and a spring 26, forcing the arm against the cam disc.

- The chambers 10 to 13 inclusive are constructed in the same manner, for which reason only one chamber of the group 12 is 'The channels 5 to 7 inclusive are shown completely and described. The chamber 12 has three fixed walls and one movable side wall 27, which is located at the end of the row of cigarettes introduced into the chamber. The said wall 27 is fixed to a short rod 29, movable in a guide 28, and isheld in the shown outer position by a spring 30: The distance between the movable wall 27 a-nd the opposite fixed wall of each chamber 'is' so adapted, that the chamber may contain seven and six cigarettes respectively- 1 As the revolver is rotated through an angle of 90 the chambers 10 are broughtinto a vertical position or in the position in which the-chambers 11 are shown. In'the said position controllation is effected regarding the number of cigarettes in the rows. The mechanism effecting the controlling com-' prises three elbow-shaped lever arms 32, 33 and 34, the one arm of which is located under the rod 29 carrying the movable wall 27 of each chamber and the other arm of which has such a position, that the same actuated by a spring 35 may force inwards the current interrupting button 36 of. a contact device 37,applied in the circuit of an electric motor (not shown) driving the machine. An elbow-shaped arm 38' is also swingable on the pin or shaft 31. The. one shank of the arm 38 is forced by a spring 39 against a cam disc 40, which is fixed on a rotating shaft 41. The other shank of the said arm is provided with apin 42, which extends along the rows of'lever arms 32,33 and 34 and normally holds the said arms at some distance from the rods 29.:

As .the'group of chambers 10 is in the said vertical position, the cam disc40m0ves the 'arm .38 upwards, so that the pin '42 makes free the elbow-shaped arms 32, 33 and 34, which then are forced by their springs V 35 against the rods 29. If the'rows of cigarettes are complete, the movable walls 27 remain in their positions and the arms are stopped. If, on the other hand, any one of the rows of cigarettes is incomplete, as in the rightmost chamber in Fig. 1, the elbowshaped lever arm 32 moves the correspond.

ing' wall2l inwards and at the same-time causes the contact device 37 to break the current,so that the machine is brought to a standstill. The cigarettes are then removed from the chamber. has been effected, the machine is: again i started and the revolver rotated through an After the controlling tongues 14, 15 and-16, which, as the piston is advanced, enter the chambers 10: respectively. lr If-the chambers 10 are charged with cigarettes, the cigarettes are pushed by the piston- 43 out of the chambers and preferably into the casing or box. 5

The intermittent movement of the revolver 9 may, evidently, be effected in many different ways. In the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a wheel 47 having four teeth, is fixed to the shaft 8 and engaged by a spring actuated pawl 48, which is provided on a toothed se lent 49., freely mounted on the shaft 8. toothed segment 50 meshes with the toothed segment 49 and iscarried by a two-armed lever 52 swingably mountedon a pin 51. Thesaid lever 52 is provided with a slot, which is engaged by a roller 54 mounted on a disc 55, which is rotated by the driving shaft of the machine through any suitable motion transmitting device. A counter pawl 56 holds the revolver during the return stroke of the toothed segment 49.

Among theadvantagesof controlling devices arranged in accordance with this invention the following may be mentioned. Owing to the, fact that: thechambers in the revolver are located tangentially to the revolver, the radius of the same is veryshort, as perceived from Fig. 1. Besides, the cigarettes located in the chambers, which are closed at four sides, have an undisturbed position, so that no tobacco or an inconsiderably partcomes out, while the cigarettes are transferred bythe revolver to the different stations. 7 o

The invention may, evidently, be modified in some respects without exceeding the limits of the same. Forjinstance, the contact device may be included in a mechanism, which interrupt the'transmitting of driving power delivered by a source other than an electric motor, as easily understood by those skilled intheart.

Iclaimf v a V .1. In a machine for packaging cigarettes and other staff-shaped articles in one or more rows in casings, boxes or the like, a controlling device comprising a number of chambers, adapted to contain the rows of cigarettes, before their introducing into the casings, each of the said chambers being provided'with a movable wall 'closingthe chainber at the'one end of the row of cigarettes contained byv the chamber and located parallel to the cigarettes, and members adapted to actuate the said movable walls respectively, so that, if the row ofci'garettes is incomplete, the wall is moved inwards into the chamber and, a motion is imparted to the member, which may be used for stopping the machine:

2. In a machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the groups of chambers closed at four sides are provided-in a revolver tangentially' to the same, so that-the revolver has a short radius andthe cigarettes have an undisturbed position in the chambers. 1

3. In a machine for packaging cigarettes and other staff-shaped articles in one or more rows in casings, boxes or the like, a controlling device comprising a number of chambers, adapted to contain the rows of cigarettes before their introducing into the casings, each of the said chambers being provided With a movable Wall closing the chamber at the one end of the row of cigarettes contained by the chamber and located parallel to the cigarettes and members adapted to actuate the said movable Walls respectively, so that, if the row of cigarettes is incomplete, the Wall and the said member are moved toward the inner of the chamber, and a contact device controlled by the said members and included in a mechanism for stopping the machine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

GUS-TAF CRSTROM. 

